Defending MLS champion Los Angeles FC aim to continue a dominating start when they visit Nashville SC on Saturday night.
LAFC (5-0-2, 17 points) are the lone unbeaten team in the league and also are off to the second-best, seven-match start in franchise history, just behind a 6-0-1 opening run in 2019.
LAFC has scored three or more goals on four occasions, including the last two matches. The club is coming off a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the fierce “El Trafico” rivalry.
While they have scored 15 goals, LAFC also has allowed just five. The only team to surrender fewer is Nashville with four.
Nashville (3-3-2, 11 points) gave up just two goals over its first seven matches before allowing two in the first 25 minutes in last week’s 2-1 road loss to New York City FC.
“That team prides itself on clean sheets and conceding very few chances,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said of Nashville. “On the other side, though, a team that also doesn’t score a lot.”
Nashville has scored just seven goals this season despite the presence of reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar. But perhaps Mukhtar is about to break out after scoring the lone goal last week. It was his second of the season after having a league-high 23 last season.
Nashville is just 1-3-1 over its last five matches as it begins a stretch of three straight home games. Coach Gary Smith is hoping that a good performance against LAFC would help the team break out of its slumber.
“A result against LAFC would of course be a massive boost and a big shot in the arm just purely because of the caliber of the team you are playing against,” Smith said. “If you are a player, these are the games you look forward to. They have to be the best team in the league by some margin, I do believe.”
Jacob Shaffelburg also has two goals for Nashville, which has received five shutouts from goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Denis Bouanga leads LAFC with six goals. Carlos Vela has three goals, including two in the win over the Galaxy.
“Carlos has a very special left leg and his (soccer) IQ is also off the charts,” Cherundolo said.
LAFC and Nashville split two meetings last year.
–Field Level Media
